Franz and Kathrein, of Austrian and German origin, have been installed in Chile since 1993. They wanted to share their fascination with the nature that Chile offers, so they began an operator of responsible tourism, Trekkingchile, which particularly focuses on the central area of the country, an area that is usually not considered by the tour guides. This week, Franz brings us firsthand, their fascinating story and the best Chilean recommendations.

Hi Franz, can you tell us how you arrived to Chile and what led you to establish there?
In 1989 I began to travel the world and toured over 50 countries always looking for the best hikes. I came to Chile with my wife Kathrein Splett in 1993. We walked from Santiago to Puerto Montt. What we liked best were the mountains of the Maule region and we have stayed there until today.

Chile is a wonderful country, please share with us your favorite places.
At the north end I find the route between Colchane and Putre with its colorful hills, active volcanoes, easy wildlife viewing and pure skies make it one of the biggest attractions of the country. From central Chile I like its high mountains and glaciers that have the ideal climate for any mountaineer. One of my favorites is the Peteroa volcano. We haven’t taken advantage yet of the coast for trekking but we recently observed five whales from the beach of Arcos de Calan. In the region of La Araucania, I recommend volcano Sollipulli and its surroundings: hidden lagoons, majestic trees and almost no tourism. In the southernmost area I’d rather go to lesser known places like Puerto Tranquilo and Explorers valley instead of the famous national parks.De entre todas vuestras actividades de Trekking Chile, ¿cuales recomendarías por encima de todo, aquellas que sean realmente una experiencia diferente para el viajero?
Las actividades turísticas deben tener un sentido más profundo, el viajero de larga distancia no viene para practicar deportes físicos sino para conocer el país, su flora, su fauna y su gente. Cualquier excursión debe dejar crecer espiritualmente al turista, han de regresar a su país con mayor conocimiento, con experiencias inolvidables llenas de recuerdos con los chilenos y sus comunidades tradicionales. La diferencia no está en la actividad sino en la forma de realizarla.

What is the best region for trekking tours? And the best time of year to go?
Each region has its charm and each region is good for trekking. The desert attracts many people from all over the world, it is more difficult to find established routes, and climate and lack of water also complicate the outings. Central Chile has a very stable climate, there are endless trails with easy access and the landscape transforms from the more arid to the rainforest. Maybe it’s the area with more options for trekking. Most visited is the southernmost region with its volcanoes in the region of the lakes and impressive mountains and glaciers in the Chilean Patagonia.

You work a lot in the conservation of the Aymara culture, could you highlight what you like most about their customs, cuisine, music, etc?Trekkingchile is building bridges between traditional communities and tourists. Fewer and fewer people live according to their ancestral cultures. The Aymara in northern Chile live in extreme places, extreme in climate and altitude but also in scenic beauty. Tourists are seeking contact but do not know how to approach people. Most notable is that many of the Aymara are also interested in knowing something of the life of tourists but do not know how to approach them either. With some help they are sitting at the same table and are walking the same paths. We created the “Meet the People” with the intent to facilitate contact between the two parties.

It has been a really exciting year for us in Zuvy. To celebrate we wanted to share with you the best wildlife and nature pictures received from the travel providers we work with. Imagine how lucky they are to work sorrounded by all this beauty. Hope you like them!

Two weeks ago we took a trip to the area of Misiones in northern Argentina. On our trip we visited the amazing Iguazu Falls, the Jesuit missions and the Misiones jungle. Most tourism is concentrated in Iguazu but it’s worth it to travel further to better understand the historical and natural legacy of this lung of the planet. A common pattern in our journey: the Guarani people.

Our first stop was the Jesuit reductions (or missions). Although the best preserved are in Paraguay (Jesus de Taverangué and Trinidad), because of the long line at customs we couldn’t access the country and visited 3 of the ruins found in Argentine territory: San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana and Loreto.

The Jesuit presence lasted 160 years (1609-1769) and is considered an exciting time in history. The Guarani Indians used to live in small groups and, following the Jesuit initiative they formed settlements of around 5000 indians each. Reductions were real “civilized” colonies that had organized their subsistence, social and cultural organization and spirituality.

The Jesuits brought a special sensitivity to many aspects of Guarani culture and identity, working to defend it and perpetuate it and became the axis of the conception of the Reductions. Many will know well what I’m talking about with the movie “The Mission ” but it’s impressive to see in person what remains of these settlements. It emanates spirituality as few other places.

Our next stop was Iguazu. Yguazú in Guarani means “big waters”. And quite big! Is formed at the confluence of the Iguazu and Parana rivers where you can certainly find one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. Constant debate between Brazil and Argentina in the dispute over who has the best views. I recommend you visit both because each one is special. From Brazil , there is a more panoramic view and a unique view of the Garganta del Diablo . From Argentina , it’s like literally being inside the waterfall. As activities, you can take boat rides under the waterfalls and walks the trails while appreciating some jungle animals. I recommend on the Argentine side the boat going to the Isla San Martin as it is less crowded and the view is spectacular.

Our last stop was Don Enrique Lodge, a jungle lodge extremely welcoming and committed to environmental conservation on the eastern border of Misiones where we spent two unforgettable days. Take a close look at what it was like. Bachi, the owner of Don Enrique, tells us how only 5% of the original Paranaense o Misiones jungle is left and that 5% is here, the Yabotí Biosphere Reserve, where the hotel is located.

“A día de hoy, se estima solo queden unas 200 familias de indios guaraníes”, nos cuenta Eliseo de Don Enrique. Luchan incesantemente por vivir en la selva, donde siempre lo han hecho, bajo sus costumbres y reglas. Tuvimos la oportunidad de visitar una de sus aldeas y de conocer su modo de vida cerca. Nos cantan una canción que nos pone los pelos de punta. Desde los tiempos de los jesuitas, la música ha sido una de sus principales virtudes.
“Today, it is estimated that only 200 Guarani Indian families remain,” says Eliseo the Don Enrique guide. They fight constantly to live in the jungle, where they always have, under their traditions and rules. We had the opportunity to visit one of their villages and learn about their way of life. They sing a song that leaves us shivering. From the time of the Jesuit settlements, music has been one of their main virtues.

About Me

I am a São Paulo based traveler, consultant and entrepreneur.
I am a passionate traveler that has visited over 35 countries. My traveling obsession is to avoid the mass and getting where nobody gets to. I love exploring new places, meeting the locals, enjoying pristine nature and practicing adventure sports. Excellent food and a charming small hotel give the final touch to wonderful journeys.